The Rupee opened stronger on Monday, , up from its ?close around 95.69 on Friday. The currency is down 6% over 2026 is so far. Traders expect the currency to hold a slightly positive bias through the session as Brent crude oil prices retreated below $100 per ?barrel for the first time in over two weeks on optimism that the U.S. and ?Iran are moving closer to a peace deal. The dollar slipped at the start of Asian trading on Monday as hopes of a deal to reopen the ?Strait of Hormuz pushed oil prices below $100 per barrel, even as ?the Trump administration played down the chances of reaching an agreement with Iran soon.nAgainst the yen , the U.S. dollar was down 0.2% at 158.87 yen, while the euro rose 0.3% ?to $1.1642 and the British pound gained 0.4% to $1.3485. The ?Australian dollar advanced 0.4% to $0.7160, while its kiwi counterpart tacked on 0.5% ?to $0.5877. However, the U.S. blockade on Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz would "remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday. ?There was no immediate ?response from ?Iran's government. Oil markets tumbled, as Brent crude prices fell 5.1% to $98.29 a barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate was ?at $91.76 a barrel, off 5%. Traders expressed cautious scepticism over whether ?a deal ?would stick. Gold prices rose more than 1% on Monday, ?supported by a weaker dollar and easing oil prices, as investors weighed prospects of a breakthrough in U.S.-Iran peace negotiations. Spot gold was up 1.1% at $4,560.09 per ounce, as of 0219 ?GMT. U.S. gold futures for June delivery gained 0.9% to $4,562.10.......